I don't like to finish second: Alonso

When Fernando Alonso said "I don't like to finish second", it summed up what it takes to win and stick to a racing seat with Formula One's most celebrated team - Ferrari.

Written by Press Trust of India

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Greater Noida:

When Fernando Alonso said "I don't like to finish second", it summed up what it takes to win and stick to a racing seat with Formula One's most celebrated team - Ferrari.

Ferrari, the oldest surviving team, is statistically the most successful in F1 history with a record of 15 drivers' championships and 16 constructors' championships.

"Not only in F1, whether it is golf or a game of tennis. I dont like to finish second. I don't speak to my teammate for a week," Alonso, the Ferrari driver, who is one of the leading contenders for second spot this season, said to a select group of journalists in an interaction ahead of the maiden Indian Grand Prix on Sunday.

The drivers' championship has already been sealed by Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel but there is a fierce fight for second place among McLaren's Jenson Button (222), Alonso (212) and Red Bull's Mark Webber (209).

Asked about motivation level when drivers already know that they can't win the championship, Alonso said there is no chance of letting the intensity drop.

"Ferrari is extremely competitive. People work for 16-17 hours a day, Mechanics work 20 hours a day. There is enough motivation for Sunday and the target is always to win," the twice World champion said as just three races are left in the season.

Alonso was the youngest F1 driver to win a pole position and a Grand Prix, in 2003, at the age of 22. He also became the youngest drivers' champion in 2005 and then the youngest double winner, the following year.

Asked how he would like to be remembered at the end of his career and what he wants to achieve in F1 before calling it quits, Alonso said, it's difficult to set a target.

"There could be no target in F1. It's complex sport. To win a championship, a lot of factors play role. You should have a better car, best mechanics, good package and you have to be lucky. When all these things come together, you win a championship," the Spaniard said during an interaction arranged by Shell Lubricant, the official technical partner for Ferrari.

Alonso however did say that he would like to win four-five championships before his contract end with Ferrari ends in 2016.

"Ferrari is the maximum target of any driver in his career. We use to play with red cars when we were kids and we can't imagine F1 without a red car. It's a symbol of sport and it's a privilege to be with the legendary team.

He also said that it will be a big challenge for Ferrari to get back to their dominating ways. The last time they won the team title was in 2008.

"We face a big strong opponent. Red Bull did a good job and we need to congratulate them. It's a big challenge but we can do it," he said.

Asked if there will be a better car for him in 2012, he said, "I don't see a revolution in the car. But approach will be aggressive. Aerodynamics has been our problem but it is difficult to do much as regulations are very tight. Then there were problems in wind tunnel. But problems are behind now," he signed off.